Card selecting apparatus



May 28, 1935. J. w. wHn-soN GARD sELEcTING APPARATUS Filed April 16, 192s 2 Sheets-Sheet l N /3 M :visu a 2v *n *nog r m W El. p 6 M m f V M ww 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 28, 1935.

Patented May 28, 1935 44 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in card Illing and segregating apparatus of the type disclosed in my pending application for patent for card record apparatus led January 5, 1925,

Serial No. 663 which has since matured into Patent No. 1,846,779, issued Feb. 23, 1932.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a card record apparatus of the character described which will'be comparatively simple as to construction and operation, compact, and Vinexpensive andv which may be operated to segregate the cards as desired, in a much more accurate and expeditious manner than has heretofore been possible with apparatus of this kind.

Another object of the invention is to provide a card record apparatus of the character described in which the cards may be easily, reliably and accurately segregated according to one or a plurality of characteristics of the cards by the simple expedient of pressing a button or similar operating member.

Another object of lthe invention is to provide apparatus ofthe character described with which a plurality of diiering methods of segregating the cards may be carried out without necessitating any changes in the construction of the apparatus, and without complicating the method of operation thereof, thereby making the apparatus adaptable for various uses and for various businesses wherein card record systems peculiar to the particular business, are employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described which will provide for the proper housing of a greater number of cards and a more rapid, reliable and accurate segregation of said cards in a smaller and more simply constructed apparatus than has heretofore been possible in this art.

With the above mentioned and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and set forth in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportion, size and mino:` details of construction within the scope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a top plan view.

Fig. 2 is a front view. I

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view, showing the cards in normal position in full lines and in segregating position in dotted lines.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the cards in full lines as when moved to the right, dotted lines showing respectively. the cards as (Cl. 129-16J) when moved to the left and when moved 11pwardly.

Fig. 6 is a front view of a card, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 'I is a transverse sectional View similar to Fig. 4 but showing in.d\otted lines the cards Fig. 10 is a side View of the card shown inl Fig. 9. v

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a card carrier with'a group of cards.y

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical circuit for the magnets and circuit closers.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings comprises a casing I, made up of acard compartment 2, a mechanism compartment 3, and a keyboard 4. Cards 5 are supported on shelves 6 and 1, at the sides and extending beneath card compartment 2'. A plurality of nger keys 8, lettered A, B, C, etc.; are fixed to horizontal selecting bars 9 by rivets 31 and extend above the keyboard 4. The bars 9 pass through vertical slots I0 and II in the casing I and are adjustably supported by rods I2, the bars 9 having inclined slots I3, through which rods I2 pass. When any one or more of the finger keys 8 are operated the bar or bars 9 operated by the key or keys will move into upper or selecting position as shown in dotted lines Fig. 3. Springs I4 fastened to the casing I by screws 38 act to hold the bars 9 in selecting position said springs abutting the ends of said bars when the latter are in up position as shown in Fig. 3 in dotted lines. The rods I2 are secured at their ends as at Il to the/upper pole pieces I8 and I9 of electro-magnets I5 and I6. Electro-magnets I5 and I6 are fastened by screws 39 to the casing i, with their upper pole pieces I8 and I9 at opposite sides of card compartment 2 and the pole pieces extend the full length of the card compartment. Lifter bars 20 and 2| are yoked together by a Ushaped piece 22 and have an operating key 23 secured thereto. 'Ihese bars 29 and 2I pass through vertical slots 24 and 25 in the casing I and have inclined slots 2 I through which the rods I2 extend.

On the lower edges of the cards 5 are a plurality of spaced lugs 32, corresponding in number and position to the bars 9. Near the ends of the cards at their lower edges are slots 33 that receive the bottom members 3I of the carrier 29 when the carrier is lifted to remove the cards from the card compartment. The lugs in this instance on the front card shown are lettered A, C, D, and G, to correspond.I with letters on the finger keys 8.

The cards 5 are of a lesser width than the inner width of the compartment, to permit sidewise movement of the cards in the compartment.

For the purpose of illustrating one use of the apparatus of my invention, the lugs 32 are further designated Commercial, Savings, Safe Deposit, etc., representing various departments of a bank, it being desired to assort or select the cards under single indexings, groups or pluralities of indexings, etc.

There are several ways of indexing the cards, one by leaving on the lugs 32, as shown in Fig. 6; another by removing the lugs 32, as shown in Fig. 8, or a combination of the above ways may be used. The cards shown in both illustrations are listed Commercial, Safe Deposit, Loan and Foreign, or positions A, C, D, and iGl Fig. 9 shows a card before any of the lugs 32 have been removed. The cards can be made of magnetically attractive material, or as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, iight spring-steel pieces 34, having lugs 35, passing through slots 36 in the card, may be used. The card could also be made as illustratedl in my pending application entitled Card record apparatus, filed Jan. 5, 1925, Serial No. 663. In the present instance cards made of magnetically attractive material are used.

The cards Vcan be made to fit any size of file drawer and the carrier with its group of cards stored in same when not in use. Thus one selecting mechanism can be used with any number of cards.

Operation' Referring to Fig. 6, if it is desired toi select this card and all other cards listing all the indexings, Commercial, Safe Deposit, Loan" and Foreign, these indexings will be referred to by the lugs and keys representing them, to-wit: A, C, D, UG.

As shown in Fig. 4, a group of cards by means of the carrier 29 is lowered into a normal position spaced from the side walls of the card compartment 2, and the follower 30 is adjusted to allow free movement of the cards. The magnet I5 is then energized and all the cards are attracted and .moved out of the normal position -to the right against the pole piece I8 as shown in dotted lines.

`bar 9 into position for obstructing or holding all cards having lug A against movement to the left. 'I'he two-button switch 21 is then operated to close the circuit for and maintain energized the magnet I6. The cards' not having lug A will move thru the normal position to the left against pole piece I9. Key C is then pressed and key A moved to its down position or released by pulling forward on the finger key. The cards having lug A but not having lug C, will move to the left. Keys D and G are operated in turn. The cards thus moved to the left are clear of the lifting bar 2I and the recesses or notches 33 in said cards are moved into position to receive the lifting bar 29, when the latter is moved upwardly. Thus the cards remaining against pole piece I8 are thos'e having all of the lugs A, C, D, and G. The magnet I6 is then deenergized by operating the switch 21 and the key 23 is operated, moving the bars 20 and 2| above the shelves 6 and 'I. The bar 2I will engage the lower edges of the selected cards which remain against the pol piece I8 and lift said cards upwardly whereas the bar 20 will engage the lower edge of said cards adjacent the other ends of the cards, these cards being at this time immediately over andl in position to be engaged and lifted upward by the bars 20 and 2|. The other cards, however,.have the notches 33 in position to permit the bar 20 to move freely into the notches without lifting the cards. In this way the selected cards are pushed upward into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. A movement of all of the cards to the right as when the magnet I5 is energized, therefore disposes the cards in position to be pushed upward upon the upward movement of the bars 20 and 2 I, because said cards are normally positioned to one side of the lifting bars and would therefore not be engaged and lifted when said bars are moved upward. The follower 30 can then be tightened and the mass of cards lifted from the machine by means of carrier 29.

The selection was completed when magnet I6 was deenergized. Raising the selected cards above the mass is for convenience in referring to the names.

The card John Doe would also be selected with cards having lugs A or"A, C, or A, C, D, or C, D etc., when selection is made under these indexings. Several keys can be operated at once as keys A, C, and D, as when magnet I3 is energized, all the cards not having lugs in any of these (A, C and D) positions will move to the left. The card John Doe would be one of this selected group.

Referring to Fig. 4, when it is desired to select the cards having lugs A and C and not having lug E, key E is pressed and magnet I5 is energized, the cards not having lug E willmove to the right as shown in dotted lines. Referring to Fig. 5, magnet I5 is deenergized, key A is pressed, key E is released, magnet I6 is energized and the .cards not having lug A will move to the left. Key

C is pressed and key A is released, the cards not having lug C moving to the'left. Magnet I6 is then deenergized and key 23 operated as hereinbefore described. The card John Doe would be one of those selected.

Selection according to the method shown in my pending application entitled card record apparatus, filed Jan. 5, 1925, Serial No. 663, is made as follows: Referring to Fig. 4, the bars 9 are all moved to their upward position, the lugs 32 of the cards 5 fitting between the bars 9. It is desired to select the cards having any ofthe lugs A, C,. D and G. The keys A, C, D and G are moved to their lower positions, magnet I5 is energized and all the cards having lugs only at these positions will move to the right, where they can be elevated by operating key 23.

Referring to Fig. '7 a group of cards as shown in Fig. 8 is lowered into card compartment 2. It is desired to select all the cards having lugs A,

'and moving the cards not held to the C, Dand G removed, keys A, C, D and G are pressed, magnet l5 is energized and all the cards having lugs A, C, D and G removed will move to the right, where they can be elevated above the pack `by operating key .23. The card John Doe would be one of those selected.-

The card John Doe" would also be selected with cards having lugs A or A, C, or A, C, D, etc., removed, when selection is made under these indexings.

To select cards having any of the lugs A, C, D and G, removed, key A is pressed and magnet l5 vis energized, all cards not having lug A will move to the right. Key C is pressed and key A is released, magnet |5 is energized and all cards not having lug C will move to the right. Keys D and G are then operated in like manner and all cards not having lugs at positions D or G will have moved to the right, whence all the selected cards can be elevated by operating key 23. The card John Doe would be one of those selected.

It is desired to select the cards not having lugs A and C but having lug E. Referring to Fig. keys A and C are pressed and magnet I5 is energized, the cards not having lugs A and C will move to the right. Key E is then pressed and magnet I 6 is energized, those of the cards that have moved to the right, not having lugvE, will move to the left to the main assemblage of cards. Magnet I6 is then deenergized and the selected cards can be elevated by operating key 23.

The switch 21 is shown in detail in the diagram, Fig. 12. When the right-hand push button is depressed, the circuit is closed and the switch element stays in circuit-closing position,

due to the frictional engagement of the contact pieces 24 and 24". When the left-hand button is depressed the circuit is opened. Electrical energy is conducted from one side of a suitable source indicated at 21', through a conductor 23', to one side of each of the magnets I5 and I6. From the other side of the' magnet I5, a conductor 22 leads to the switch 26, from which a conductor 20 leads to the other side of the source of electrical energy. A conductor I9 is connected with the conductor 20 and,

with the contact member 25. A conductor I8 is connected with the other side oi.' the magnet I6 and with the contact member 25".

Attention is called to the fact that the cards are divided into two groups when selection is made and that either or both groups lcan be regarded as the selected ones.

I claim: i

1. Card record apparatus comprising a card compartment, a plurality of cards in the compartment of lesser width than the compartment, each of which cards is adapted to be moved by magnetic attraction, electro-magnets on oppof site sides of the compartment; means for energizing the magnets in succession; and means for holding a certain card or 'cards against movement away from the magnet first energized.

2. Card record mechanism comprising a card compartment, a plurality of cards in the compartment adapted for movement laterally within the compartment; each of which cards is adaptedv to be moved by magnetic attraction;

means for magnetically attracting and moving all of the cards towards one side of the compartment, means for holding certain of the moved cards adjacent said side of the compartment, and means for magnetically attracting other side of the compartment.v

v3. vCard record mechanism comprising a card compartment; a plurality of cards in the coml` partment adapted for movement laterally within the compartment; each of which cards is moving said selected cards upwardly within the compartment.

4. Card record mechanism comprising a card compartment; a plurality oi' cards mounted in the compartment so as to be movable laterally towards the sides of the compartment, each of which cards is adapted for movement by magnetic attraction; a plurality ofv spaced projections on the lower edges 'of the cards; a plurality of bars selectively movable into positions to be engaged by said projections to prevent lateral movement of the cards thus engaged, selective means for operating said bars; and magnets located on opposite 'sides of said compartment and towards which said cards are subject to movement.

5. Card record mechanismcomprising a card compartment; a plurality of cards mounted in the compartment so as to be movable laterally towards the sides of the compartment, each of which cards is adapted for movement by magnetic attraction; a plurality of spaced projections on the lower edges of the cards; a plural-` ity of bars selectively movable into position to be engaged by said projections to prevent lateral movement of the cards thus engaged; selective means for operating said bars; electro-magnets located on opposite sides of said compartment sive 'cards in the compartment normally positioned with the side edges thereof spaced from the sides of the compartment, magnetic means for moving all of the cards to one side of their normalV position, selectively operable means for holding a card or cards against movement when in `said out-of-normal position and magnetic means formoving a card or cards not held against movement into a position on the other side of said normal position. l

7. Card record apparatus comprising a card compartment, a plurality of cards mounted in the compartment so as to be spaced from one side of the compartment, each of which cards is adapted to be moved by magnetic attraction,

electro-magnets on opposite sides of the oomcards towards one side of the compartment; means for holding given cards against movement away from said magnetic means; and means for magnetically attracting and moving the cards not held to the other side of the compartment.

9. Card record apparatus comprising a card compartment; a, plurality of cards adapted to be moved laterally towards either side of the compartment, each of which cards are adapted to be -moved by magnetic attraction; means for magnetically attracting all of the cards towards one side of the compartment; selectively operable means for holding certain of the cards against said one side of the compartment; and means for magnetically moving the cards not held toward the other side of the compartment.

10. Card record mechanism comprising a card compartment; a plurality of cards in the compartment of lesser width than the compartment movable laterally towards the sides of the compartment, each of which cards is adapted for movement by magnetic attraction; an electromagnet on one side of said compartment toward which all of said cards are subject to movement; a plurality of spaced projections on the lower edges of the cards; a, plurality of bars movable into position to be engaged `by selected projections to prevent lateral movement away from the side of the compartment of the cards thus engaged; selective means for operating said bars;

an electro-magnet located on the other side of said compartment and towards which the -cards not held are subject to movement; and means Afor selectively energizing said electro-magnets.

11. Card record apparatus including a card compartment; a plurality of magnetically responsive record cards in the compartment; a plurality of abutment members projecting outwardly from a margin of each card, said cards being distinguished by the differences in the number and location of abutment members carried thereby; magnetic means for moving all of the cards to one side of the compartment; means engaging said abutment members in given positions for holding the engaged cards from moving away from said magnetic means; and magnetic means for moving the cards not held to the opposite side of the lcompartment.

12. Card record apparatus including, a card compartment; cards in the compartment movable laterally toward the sides of the compartment, each of said cards being adapted for movement by magnetic attraction; an electro-magnet on one side of the compartment to attract all of the cards ther'eto; a plurality of spaced projections along the lower edge of each of the cards; a plurality of bars selectively movable into positions to be engaged by said projections to prevent lateral movement of the' cards 'thus engaged; and an electro-magnet on the other side of the compartment to attract thereto all cards that are not engaged by said bars.

13. Card record apparatus as set forth in claim 11, including bars for elevating the engaged cards above the level of the other cards.

14. Card record apparatus as set forth in claim 12, including bars for elevating the engaged cards above the level of the other cards. y

15. Card record mechanism ccmprising a card compartment; a plurality ofy magnetically attractable cards arranged in a normal position between the sides of the compartment; a magnet for moving all of the cards laterally out of the normal position to one side of the compartaooasov t ment; means toA hold certain of the moved cards adjacent said magnet; and a, second magnet for moving the cards not held back thru the normal position to the other side of the compartment.

16. Card record mechanism comprising a card compartment; a plurality of magnetically attractable cards arranged in'a normal position between the'sides of the compartment: a magnet for moving all of the cards laterally out of the normal position to one side o! the compartment; means to hold certain of the moved cards adjacent said magnet; a second magnet for moving the cards not held back thru the normal position to the other side of .the compartment; and means to elevate the cards'lheld adjacent the ilrst magnet into a position above the other cards.

17. Card record mechanism comprising a card compartment; a pluralty of magnetically attractable cards arranged in a position between the sides of the compartment; magnetic means for moving the cards horizontally adjacent one side of the compartment means to hold certain of the cards against said side of the compartment; and magnetic means for moving the cards not held Vto the other side of the compartment.

18. Card record mechanism comprising a card compartment; a plurality of magnetically attractable cards arranged in a position between the sides of the compartment; magnetic means for moving the cards horizontally adjacent one side of the compartment means to hold certain of the cards against said side of the compartment; magnetic means for moving the remainder of the rst moved cards to the other side'of the compartment; and means for raising the cards that; have been held as specied above the level of the other cards.

19. The method of segregating certain magnetically .attractable cards from a stack of magnetically attractable cards which consists in positioning all of the cards in a segregating position; holding said certain cards immovable and then moving horizontally by magnetic attraction from the segregating position the cards not held and elevating the cards that; have been held as speciiled above the level of the stack of cards.

20 Card apparatus comprising a card Acompartment; a plurality of magnetically responsive cards ment; a magnet arranged adjacent an edge or the plurality of cards to attract one or more unlocked cards toward it; and means to energize said magnet. n

22. Card record. mechanism comprising a card compartment; a plurality of cards in the compartment having the edges thereof arranged with varying contours; selectively operable means to engage contours on certain of the cards to lock the ysame against movement; and magnetic means to move a card or cards not engaged out of alignment with the locked cards.

23.` Card record mechanism comprising a card compartment; a groupof cards in said compartment, each of said cards having abutments, with spaces therebetween, extended from a margin thereof, and certain of the cards having one or more of they abutments thereon removed to provide larger spaces between abutments; means on each oi' the cards which makes each of the cards subject to movement by magnetic attraction selectively operable means on the compartment to enter the space between any pair of abutments on the cards, and magnetic means to attract from the group of cards, one or more cards from which one or more of the abutments have been removed from the margin thereof, by eil'ecting movement of said card or cards relative to such of said selecting means as have been operated.

24. Card record mechanism comprising a card compartment, a plurality ot cards mounted in the compartment, which cards are adapted to be moved by magnetic attraction, means for applying magnetic attraction to the cards and tending to move all ot them, and selectively operable means to lock certain of the cards against movement when said magnetic torce is applied.

25. A card record mechanism comprising a casing including a card compartment, a plurality of cards mounted in the compartment, a plurality of lugs projecting downwardly from the lower edges of each of the cards, a plurality of bars in registry with the spaces petween the lugs, means for selectively moving said bars into position between said lugs to lock certain cards against movement, and means for moving the unlocked cards into a position out of alignment with the locked cards.

26. Card record mechanism comprising a card compartment, a plurality of magnetically attractable cards in the compartment and means for holding the cards against movement, which lmeans is selectively operable to hold certain cards; and means for moving the cards not held relative to the held cards thru the instrumentality of magnetic attraction.

27. Card record mechanism comprising a card compartment, a plurality of cards in the compartment, means for holding the cards against movement, which means is selectively operable to hold certain cards against movement; and means for moving cards not held out of alignment with the held cards.

28. Card record apparatus comprising a card compartment, cards mounted in the compartment, means, on operation of which all of the cards are influenced to move, and means holding the cards against movement, which means is selectively operable to hold certain cards against movement and to permit cards not held to move under the influence of the iirst-named means. 29. Card record apparatus comprising a card compartment, magnetically attractable cards mounted in the compartment, means holding the cards against movement in one direction, which means is selectively operable to hold certain cards against movement, and means which when operated, will move the cards not held relative to those that are held, thru the-instrumentality oi magnetic attraction.

30. Card record apparatus comprising a card compartment, a plurality of cards mounted in predetermined direction, means on the cards with which the selector members enter into locking relationship, and means for subjecting all of the cards of the set to the influence of a force having a tendency to move the set, whereby the cards locked by the selector-elements are prevented from following said movement to permit the cards not engaged by the selector elements to be inuenced by vsaid force and to move to a diierentiating position relatively to the locked cards.

32. 'A .card record apparatus, as set forth in claim 31, having means to impart to the individually settable 'selector members movement to enter into locking relation with the cards with the exception of those cards which are to remain unlocked for movement to the diilerentiating position.

33. A record card apparatus including a compartment, a set of cards in the compartment, each card having diiierential edge portions to distinguish the card from other cards pertaining to the same set, consisting of projections and indentations between projections along at least one edge thereof; individually settable selector members to lock cards in the set'against movement in a predetermined direction, and means for subjecting all of the cards of the set to the iniuence of a force having a tendency to move the set in said direction, whereby the cards locked by the selector elements -are prevented from following said movement to permit the cards not engaged by the selector elements to be influenced by said force and to move to a differentiat' g position relatively to the locked cards, where y through the proper positioning of selector elements relatively to certain projections or indentations the card may be locked against movement relatively to the selector elements or remain unlocked relatively thereto.

34. A card record card apparatus including a compartment, a set of cards in the compartment, each card having diierential edge portions to distinguish the card from other cards pertaining to Ythe same set, consisting of projections and indentations between projections along at least one edge thereof; individually settable selector members to lock cards in the set against movement in a predetermined direction and means for subjecting all of the cards of the set to the inuence of a force having a tendency to move the set in said direction, whereby the cards locked by the selector elements are prevented from following said movement to permit the cards not engaged by the selector elements to be inuenced by said force and to move to a dierentiating position relatively to the locked cards, whereby through the proper positioning of selector elements relatively to certain projections or indentations a card or cards may be locked against movement relatively to the selector elements or remain unlocked relatively thereto, the cards being locked against movement after `the selector members enter the notches between two adjacent projections of the cards.

35. A card record apparatus, as set forth in claim 31, in which the force applied for moving the cards not affected by the selector elements to a differentiating position is a force other than the force of gravity. Y

36. A record card apparatus including a compartment, a set of cards in the compartment, individually settable selector members to lock cards in the set against movement in a predetermined direction, means on the cards with which the selector members enter into locking relationship; means for subjecting all of the cards of the set to the iniluence of a force having a tendency to move thefset in said direction, whereby' the cardsl locked by the selector elements are prevented from following said movement to permit the cards not engaged by the selector elements to be influenced by said force and to move to a diilerentiating position relatively to the locked cards, in which the force applied for moving the cards is a force other than the force of gravity, and is adapted to shift the non-locked cards laterally of the entire set of cards.

37. A record card apparatus including a compartment, a set of magnetically attractable cards in the compartment, individually settable selector members to lock` cards in the set against movement in a predetermined direction, means on the cards with which the selector members enter into locking `relationship; a magnet for subjecting all of the cards of the set to the inuence of a force having a tendency to move the set in said direction, whereby the cards locked by the selector elements are prevented from following said movement to permit the cards not engaged by the selector elements to be influenced by said Iorceand to move to a diierentiating position relatively to the locked cards.

38. A card record apparatus, as set forth in claim 37, in which said magnet extends longitudinally of the entire set of -cards, and means for energizing the magnet to move the unlocked cards to differentiating position.

39. A record card apparatus including a compartment, a set of cards in the compartment, individually settable selector members to lock cards in the set against movement in a predeteri i i m mi card receiving means in said compartment, whereby the cards are released from the tray when the card 'tray is placed in the compartment; individually settable selector members in the compartment to lock certain cards in the set against movement in a predetermined direction; means on the cards with which the selector members enter into locking relationship; and-means for subjecting all of the cards of the set to the inuence of a force having a tendency to move the set, whereby the cards locked by the selector elements are prevented from following said movement to permit the cards not engaged by the selector elements to be inuenced by said force and to move to a differentiating position relatively to the locked cards; means for retaining the selector elements in differential card locking position after actuation, and a common means for returning all set selector elements simultaneously to their inoperative position.

42. A record card apparatus including a compartment, a set of cards in the compartment, individually settable selector members to lock certain cards in the set against movement in a predetermined direction, said cards being provided with diierential area formation for eiecting selective locking operation of the cards through the movable selector elements; and means for subjecting all of the cards of the set to the inuence of a force having a tendency to move the set in said direction, whereby the cards locked by the selector elements are prevented from following said movement to permit the cards not engaged by the selector elements to be influenced by said force and to move to a diierentiating position relatively to the locked cards. 

